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Tower Transit’s Success A Wake Up Call For SMRT And SBS

Transport analysts yesterday (May 8) hailed the fact that a foreign operator clinched the first package of routes put up for tender under the Government’s bus contracting model, saying the development would shake up the public transport sector and serve as a “wake-up call” for public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit, which failed in their bids.

Tower Transit’s winning bid would see the United Kingdom-based company getting from the Government a fee of S$556 million over the five-year contract period — 22 per cent higher than the lowest fee submitted by SMRT.

The gap in the bid prices, said National University of Singapore (NUS) transport researcher Lee Der Horng, sends a positive signal that the Government pays greater attention to technical components instead of the price.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) used the two-envelope process during the tender evaluation, with the quality of the proposals evaluated first. It only looked at the price proposals after the bids have passed the quality evaluation.

Nanyang Technological University transport economist Walter Theseira said an evaluation process that places greater weight on quality than price is in line with the idea behind the bus contracting model.

“The Government will suffer if they award to a company that (asks for a low fee) but can’t perform … The last thing the public wants is business as usual,” he said. “LTA is welcoming foreign operators, hoping (their) practices will be brought to Singapore.”

SIM University (UniSIM) transport analyst Park Byung Joon said Tower Transit’s clinching bid also offers a reference point and maintains keen competition for subsequent tenders.

“If LTA had awarded it to the lowest bidder, it would have dampened the spirit as foreign companies would not see the contract as profitable as they thought (it would be),” he said.

Given that incumbent operators would have a better understanding of local operating conditions and thus be in a position to tailor their tender proposals accordingly, Tower Transit must have proposed “new concepts, ideas and management practices that made them look more attractive”, said Assistant Professor Theseira.

Even so, experts and observers foresee several hiccups a foreign operator would have to overcome.

For one, Asst Prof Theseira said there will be no “honeymoon period” for Tower Transit, whose venture here is its first foray in Asia.

“The public’s expectations for the foreign operator will be higher — also because they won with a higher bid. If they come in and promise to change the way things are done but don’t deliver, people will ask why they are paying so much,” he said.

Adapting to the local expectations and recruitment are other challenges.

UniSIM’s Dr Park said commuters in Asia have different expectations from the Western markets that Tower Transit has been operating in because buses form part of the “transport backbone”, rather than being seen as a complementary service.

So, faster and more frequent services will be demanded, he added.

On top of the unique commuting habits, Tower Transit would have to learn to work with the union and the authorities, who may have management styles different from what it is used to, said Mr Seng Han Thong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport.

Agreeing, NUS’ Prof Lee said Tower Transit will have to make adjustments to its practices, instead of directly transplanting them wholesale from its existing operations.

In terms of manpower, some current drivers may be less comfortable working for a foreign firm, experts said. Recruiting locals, especially those who are younger, could be tricky.

“Although (Tower Transit) has presented an attractive hiring and training plan, it has proven difficult to get young Singaporeans to join the industry today,” said Prof Lee.

“It is about changing the mindset of the industry. And of course, practical Singaporeans are looking out for good salary prospects,” he added.

Transport GPC chairman Cedric Foo said he hopes Tower Transit can innovate and improve softer aspects of bus services, as well as provide greater assurance for employees’ career growth.

Source: www.todayonline.com

May 10, 2015
Home Team Officers Deployed To Nepal Returns To Singapore

Singapore Civil Defence Force and police officers who were sent to Nepal for relief efforts returned home on Saturday night (May 9).

For two weeks, the 126-member contingent had searched for survivors, helped to recover bodies and helped identify victims in various parts of Nepal, which was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

There were emotional scenes as the personnel arrived at Changi Airport.

“The idea was for my wife and my mum to be here, so I was shocked to see everyone. I’m very, very happy. I miss them all,” said SCDF Staff Sergeant Md Jailani.

And for Sergeant Shahrul Pungut from SCDF, it is time to catch up after missing his mother’s birthday.

“I didn’t have international roaming, so I used the Force’s phone to call my mum and wished her happy birthday,” he said. “I will just treat her to lunch, both my parents, for her birthday.”

Singapore Police Force officer Patrick Pang greets his family after returning from relief efforts in quake-hit Nepal. (Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs)

The Home Team contingent is made up of an elite SCDF force, known as the DART unit. They are trained in various capabilities, including urban search and rescue operations. The contingent also included four SCDF handlers and their dogs, as well as members of the Singapore Police Force. The contingent is the Home Team’s largest group to be sent overseas for disaster relief efforts.

“Despite all of us coming from different units, we bonded together very quickly. We slept, ate and worked together, we took care of one another and at the end of the day, I think we are all very proud to have made a difference,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Lian Ghim Hua.

“This particular mission shows many of us how blessed we are back in Singapore, and how simple life could be, and not to take things for granted,” added Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Tan from SCDF.

The team from the Singapore Armed Forces is expected to return from Nepal in the coming days.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

May 10, 2015
Last Year, Mosques Urged Not To Adopt Confrontational Approach With LGBT Lifestyle

The Republic’s highest Islamic authority has called on mosques “not to adopt a confrontational approach or vilify those who are involved in LGBT lifestyles or in events such as Pink Dot”, referring to the annual event that will be held next Saturday at the Speakers’ Corner in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

In an internal advisory issued to the mosques, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said it was against the promotion of the LBGT lifestyle, but that “support and help” must be given to those who have been leading the lifestyle or have inclinations towards it.

It said: “We do not agree (or) approve (of) the pervasiveness of the LGBT lifestyle and we cannot agree to the efforts in promoting such a lifestyle. Nevertheless, we have to plan for something which will not only strengthen the resilience of our community to the LGBT lifestyle, but also help those who have been leading this lifestyle abstain from it and, at the same time, help those who have inclinations towards this lifestyle overcome those inclinations by providing support to them.”

Programmes conducted in the mosques must also not be seen as a movement to oppose these people, said the advisory which was dated yesterday and signed off by the council’s director of religious development, Mr Mohd Murat Aris. The advisory was circulated on social media by Facebook users and MUIS verified its contents when contacted by TODAY.

It also highlighted key points from a pre-Ramadan discussion held by the Office of the Mufti on June 12 for mosque religious officers, social development officers and youth development officers. The session was intended for Mufti Mohamed Fatris Bakaram to provide guidelines on the issue of “building (the Muslim community’s) resilience towards the LGBT lifestyle”.

For example, the mosques should stress in their Ramadan programmes the pro-family message and the importance of educating family members, so they would not be involved in LGBT-related activities. Nevertheless, the issue should not be the sole focus throughout Ramadan, the Mufti said.

On the non-confrontational approach, MUIS said: “This is first and foremost to avoid them distancing themselves from the religion and the mosque. Secondly, this is to avoid being involved in unnecessary arguments with them, which will impede our long-term efforts (on the issue). At the same time, we also do not want them to get unwanted publicity.”

The advisory also asked the mosques “not to be seen as being involved in the crossfire” between the Pink Dot and the Wear White campaign, which was started online by Mr Noor Deros, a 28-year-old Islamic religious teacher.

Mr Noor is calling on Muslims to wear white next Saturday to protest against homosexuality and defend traditional family values. Ramadan begins next Sunday and the first evening prayer to mark the fasting month will be held on the previous day.

Yesterday, Mr Noor reiterated his call for Muslims to wear white to the evening prayer. In a press statement put up on the movement’s website, he said it hopes to continue promoting “family-focused” campaigns throughout the year. He reiterated that the “informal grassroots” movement has “no membership or institutionalised committee”.

The Wear White Facebook page has attracted almost 3,000 likes so far. However, it has also attracted criticism from some social media users for being divisive, especially during Ramadan.

Earlier this week, findings from a survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies showed that Muslims and Protestant Christians feel most strongly about moral issues such as homosexual sex, sex before marriage, adoption of children by gay couples and gambling.

Yesterday, Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) senior pastor Lawrence Khong declared his support for the Wear White campaign. He said the FCBC and LoveSingapore network of churches will also encourage their members to wear white next weekend as a show of support. “I’m so happy Singapore’s Muslim community is making a vocal and visual stand for morality and family,” he said.

Last month, the Ministry of Social and Family Development rejected an application by an affiliate of TOUCH Community Services — which was founded by Mr Khong — to hold a pro-family event at the Padang. Participants had been asked to wear red to the event, which was to be held on June 28, the same day as Pink Dot.

Source: www.todayonline.com

May 10, 2015
Hirzi: I Will Remain Ferarless For The Voiceless, Unconventional Young

Hirzi Zulkiflie

Last year same month, Youtube Fanfest granted us a wonderful opportunity to have a meet and greet with our fans and followers. I just graduated. I remember turning up in my graduation gown. Most that turned up were teens between the age of 12 to 17. At the meet and greet, we opened the floor just for a casual chat with the kiddos. What came out of it was surprising. Instead, the kids chose to confide in us, their darkest moments.

A 12 year old boy told me he was a victim of sexual assault in school by a group of boys because he was effeminate.

A 14 year old hijabi girl asked me how can she overcome self-mutiliation. When I asked her why she do it. She said because she does not know how to come to terms with her feelings for girls.

Cameras from the event were rolling. I told them to shut it down. Heart heavy, I didn’t tell them what was right or wrong. We all had our own perception of what values and morals are. But I knew we all know what is human. My answer to them all stemmed from ‘support’. I said to them I won’t be the person today without Munah and she would not be the person she is today without me. I told them, they needed to find ‘their person’. I realise then my channel was more than just two weirdos attempting comedy, it was two comical persons representing weirdos… No, ‘Different people’. Unconventional people. I left that event packing up my bags to leave Singapore for a good 5 months for America.

This year I came back and their voices and faces still etched in my memory. This year I came back and I said, if I told them they needed their person… I’ll gladly use my voice to be their person.

Growing up we had no social media to turn to, to find representation for how different we are. I’m glad that in my lifetime I am able to reach out for every different persons. Gay, Straight, Fat, Weird, Special, Loud.

And to my fellow peers in the industry, if you are afraid to show your support… You must remember these kids are more afraid than you. And for all the support they have showed in our work. Voicing up is the least of our fears and is fearless at the same time too. We all have different ideas of what is right and wrong, but we should all have the same idea of what is human.

What I choose to do this year, is not my glory. It’s for these kids. It’s not to sensationalise that a brown person is standing up for a course as controversial as this. It’s not my moment. Fear is what some voices want me to feel at this point. And fear is the last thing I will show. Because these kids, need my fearlessness. And since I am Beyonce level bad ass… I want you kids to know. I am here for you. For I am your Minah.

Smart people are not afraid of intellectual discussions. They won’t shut you down too quickly.

Yours Sincerely,
Hirzi Zulkiflie.
Sometimes Syasya. Sometimes Corporal Hassan. Sometimes Ang Mo Kio Aunty.

Source: MunahHirziOfficial

May 10, 2015
Amos Yee Has Supreme Fighting Spirit, Says Former Spy Chief Yoong Siew Wah

By now the name of Amos Yee is known far and wide for his supreme fighting-spirit in his confrontation with the inhuman PAP Government. The name must also be the cause of persistent nightmares to the clownish PM Lee Hsien Loong. Imagine a 16 year-old being shackled in both hands and legs and brought before the court. What kind of human being is capable of inflicting such inhuman treatment to a 16 year old boy is beyond humanity. It does not only horrify right-thinking Singaporeans but other right-thinking people in the world as well. How would PM Lee react if his teenage son was shackled in both hands and legs and brought before a court? This would not happen under the PAP but retribution has a strange way of manifesting itself, especially when PAP has dissipated.

Besides the anti-Christianity charge and the charge of circulating obscene imagery, the inimitable Amos Yee has composed one of the most derogatory depiction of the late psychological monster (described by an American author) Lee Kuan Yew that has been causing PM Lee the persistent nightmares. This third charge has been stood down for some esoteric reason. If the composition is done by Amos Yee himself, and there is no reason to think otherwsie, Amos Yee is certainly one of the most talented teenager to have renowned Singapore with his most poignant denunciation of the late Lee Kuan Yew. Could this be the reason for his inhuman treatment by the PAP Government? In addition to being shackled, he is being remanded with adult prisoners and runs the risk of being sodomised.

What catches the imagination of right-thinking Singaporeans is Amos Yee’s remarkable defiant attitude to all efforts by the court and other heavy-handed authorities to bring him to his knees, considering that he is only 16 years old. To think that there are still highly selfless-motivated lawyers to come out under such adversity to defend Amos Yee pro-bono is something for the clownish PM Lee to ponder over. Fear of reprisals is no longer enough to deter the good Samaritans to come to the aid of their oppressed fellow brethren.

The disgraceful spectacle of the inhuman treatment of 16 year-old Amos Yee is not confined to a Singaporean audience and by now should have attracted horrified attention of right-thinking people around the world. The first round of the court case took place this morning (7 May) and ended rather abruptly without the ability of the court to curb the exuberance of a highly-spirited Amos Yee. So it has been adjourned without much fanfare to tomorrow (8 May) and Singaporeans may watch with abated breath the final arbitration of Amos Yee. Whatever it is, the indomitable spirit of Amos Yee will be a fine example, especially for a united opposition in the next GE.

Source: http://singaporerecalcitrant.blogspot.sg

May 9, 2015